Hi everyone.  Today is the first week in the A Hat Full of Sky readalong being hosted by Little Red Reviewer and Dab of Darkness.  These books are such good fun – if you haven’t read them but fancy a really refreshing blast of humour then get onboard – it’s not too late, this is a lovely leisurely schedule so there’s lots of time to catch up!  Plus, once you start reading about Tiffany you’ll get swept along (not to mention the Nac MacFeegle).  If you haven’t read these books already however you might wish to stop reading from hereon-in as spoilers will be running amok like little blue men!  You have been warned.

What do you think of Miss Level and her housemate Oswald?  Did you guess the secret about her identity before she told Tiffany the truth?

Wow, the world of Miss Level is totally out there!  I think Tiffany is in for a very strange time.  And, no, I confess, I hadn’t guessed about her identity.  At first, I hadn’t realised that there was a third character in the  mix – I had this weird idea that Miss Level had run amok with the whole ‘see me’ thing and had created a sort of other version of herself that was running around but, not only does she have ‘another’ self (which actually is a little bit creepy if you really think about it) but she has Oswald, an ondageist, who runs around tidying up!  It sounds divine – where can I get me one of those??  Although not sure I like the idea of Oswald just being able to go wherever he wants when he wants!

What kind of witchy stuff do you think Miss Level will start teaching Tiffany?

It’s a strange form of teaching really isn’t it.  A bit like teaching but without being taught.   The witches don’t seem to know how they do things but it just seems to be something they have a feel for.  It feels like it’s going to be less about teaching, in a traditional sense, and more a sort of coming to the idea of what’s right and what’s not, with a sprinking of herbal lore thrown into the mix.

What do you think of Jeannie? Do you think she’ll get in the way of the Feegle continuing to help Tiffany?

Not quite sure to make of Jeannie yet.  She seems a bit bungling (a bit in the way that Roland felt in the first novel).  She doesn’t particularly feel malicious at this stage but I do wonder about her with all her beads and baubles and dancing in the woods!  A bit like the kind of thing that seemed to have given witches a bad name in the first place when they were thought to be devil worshippers?  I must admit I don’t like the idea very much of Tiffany in the woods at night with that weird demon thing searching for her!

Have your feelings for Roland changed any?

Okay, I admit that I was a bit of a meanie on Roland and I’m now feeling slightly sheepish!  I just was a bit flabbergasted with his ‘lord to the manor’ behaviour.  He seems to have developed a bit of a crush on Tiffany doesn’t he and turned into a blushing maniac now whenever she’s around – it will be interesting to see how that develops.

Which is creepier? a Hiver or a Drome?

A Hiver definitely – it’s a demon after all and just looking for a host to possess! The whole thing with sounding like a bunch of buzzing insects – just creepy.

What really grabbed my attention this time?

The way Tiffany won the battle of the wills with the goat!

“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right?”

The part where the horse and cart, with the Mac Nag Feegles on board, is going faster than the coach and horses that they’re trying to catch in order to get their more speedily.  Irony at all?

Good fun.  Don’t forget it’s not too late to join in!

AMENDMENT to the question about Jeannie above.  Okay, I admit it!  I’m a raging doghead!  So, now you all know.  I answered that question as though I was talking about Petunia (is it Petunia?).  Anyway, what can you do. (Perhaps answer the proper question – okay, Jeannie – I didn’t like that she stopped the guys in blue from sending out a bit of a rescue party when they spotted the Hiver was on Tiffany’s tail!  But, she has a lot to contend with and I think she’s feeling insecure.  She did the right thing as soon as she realised Rob would stay with her if she asked.  So I think she’ll be okay.